Beverly Joy Roberts

When I was growing up, it was considered impolite to point at someone.  The crime of pointing could prompt a parental slap to the offender's hand.    Pointing can draw attention to someone or something and usually, this type of attention is unwelcomed.    In the Philippines, where we served as missionaries for 14 years, pointing was done with your lips and was an acceptable means of giving direction or drawing attention to a person or object.  Lip pointing is nearly effortless and far more discreet compared to lifting your arm and pointing your finger.   In the New Testament book of John, we have a person doing some definite finger-pointing, but this kind of  pointing is okay .   In John 1:29, John the Baptist is pointing people to Jesus. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,  “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John was a pointer.   He was pointing people to the one and only way to redemption.    He was pointing people to the truth

When I was in high school, there were times I had to give speeches on topics that did not interest me, but when I'm asked to speak about something dear to me like; my family, the Lord, my books, I have no problem rambling on and on.  I could talk all day about this kid or that kid or this grandchild or that grandchild, how and where I wrote my books or the amazing God of Love I serve. I could take as much of your time as you're willing to give me to let my heart bubble over with  words, words, words  about the things that are near and dear to me. Why? Because these are things that I treasure in my heart. However, I've learned that my heart is a very big place.  There is room for tons of stuff in there.  In my many years of life, I've tried to keep a tight reign on the words that spill out of my mouth, but there have been plenty of occasions where I've spoken, and I know my words revealed more about the real me than I wanted others to know. There is a scripture

I love to cruise.  I think I've been on at least 10 different cruises.  If you've never been on a cruise, I'd love to tell you all about it.   People are waiting to serve you all day long.  It's amazing! Your bed is made, your bathroom is cleaned, your garbage is removed from your room, your supplies are replenished, your food is prepared, the whole cruise ship is maintained and kept clean just for you, even your bed is turned down each night.  They even provide entertainment and learning opportunities. It's a good life. Cruising is the average person's opportunity to be served and pampered while you sit back and enjoy the ride.   It's a lifestyle that this girl adjusts to flawlessly while cruising.   The idea that the whole world is here to serve me is obviously crazy, but when I'm on a cruise, it certainly seems that way. When Believers move that cruise mentality into the church and get the idea that others are here on

My salvation testimony isn't the kind that causes people to shake their head in amazement at how far in the depths of sin I was lost, then Jesus found me, rescued me, set my feet on firm ground, and from that point on I followed a straight path. Nope!  My testimony is of a different nature.  I was seven years old when I bowed my knees at an altar on a Wednesday night at kid’s camp.  When I think of my salvation story, this is my go-to place.    Do you remember your salvation day? After that day, I didn't want any other life.  I was firm in my faith to follow Christ even at the young age of seven.  I'm not saying I never sinned again, because if you know me at all, then you know that's not true, yet I  reached up and placed my hand on the plow, and I didn't look back. Then when I was 14, there was another big event in my life, I made the decision to be baptized in water.  It seemed the natural step to make this public announcement that I was a  C